Bustles like this one were worn tied around the waist beneath women's skirts to create extra volume at the back. Lightweight bustles made from sprung steel first appeared in the 1850s. This bustle from the 1870s reflected the fashion to put all the volume at the back of the skirt. It may look restrictive to us, but at the time the new lightweight construction was a breakthrough, freeing women from wearing many layers of heavy petticoats.